Latics lack cutting edge

Photo: Pictures by ALAN HOWARTH

up and at ’em: Athletic defender James Wilson beats Bristol City’s Tyrone Barnett to the ball.

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Athletic 1, Bristol City 1

ATHLETIC huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down Bristol City’s back door on an afternoon dominated by an intense, swirling wind.

Boundary Park is used to being battered by the elements, but as the main stand rumbled and creaked, the almost-horizontal corner flags gave a clue to the strength of the gusts blowing into the exposed old ground.

It spoiled the game as a spectacle — and, no doubt, persuaded plenty of floating fans to stay indoors.

But if Athletic are to rapidly improve their league position, they can’t rest on making excuses about factors outside their control.

While Gary Harkins again probed away on the left flank, trying to make something out of little, for all Athletic’s possession and territory there was too little invention in the second half as the game meandered to a draw.

This was the 11th time Lee Johnson’s side has managed to score only one goal or fewer in 90 minutes at home this season. A poor record whatever the weather.

Forecasts were brighter early on, when Danny Philliskirk made the most of the almost farcical conditions.

Back in his favoured spot behind the main striker, after struggling to control a ball fizzed into him by Korey Smith, Philliskirk pushed it out of his feet to line up the strike. Downwind from 25 yards, the rocket left Bristol City ’keeper Simon Moore clawing at thin air as it ripped into the roof of the net.

Sadly from Athletic’s point of view, another very strong performance at the back was let down by the conceding of an all-too familiar goal only five minutes later.

James Wilson was steady and cunning while Adam Lockwood showed the bite that helped to dominate Swindon seven days earlier. But the new centre-back pair could do little to prevent the equaliser.

The corner from former Athletic loan man Bobby Reid was met by an unopposed run of Tyrone Barnett. His header was blocked in the six-yard box, but it fell for the excellent Aden Flint. who poked home a scruffy effort.

After that, the first half was dominated by the ball flying regularly out to touch, poor control and over-hit passes.

Robins’ midfield man Marvin Elliott won’t have woken up yesterday too pleased with events either.

His aerial challenge with James Wesolowski — on his 100th Athletic appearance — resulted in a golf-ball sized lump as a prize after a nasty clash of heads. Wesolowski, a rugby league fan, walked away giving his head the briefest of rubs. The stretcher to take the stricken Elliott off the pitch further disrupted the flow of what was, goals apart, a tedious opening period.

Athletic had the better of the second period. Jon Stead went close with a 20-yard free kick that drifted narrowly wide and high.

Two of Athletic’s closest calls involved Harkins. First, he stepped over the ball to breeze past his man before firing left-footed a foot over the bar. Then, enterprising play led to a cross which Stead, after a near-post run, turned wide.

Athletic muscled up with the introduction of Jonson Clarke-Harris, celebrating signing an improved contract.

There was no lack of bluster on and off the field and Athletic were left frustrated. Chances of getting a second goal were few and far between for both sides, though, and a stalemate was the fairest outcome.